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The Most Beautiful Museum and Gallery in Cambodia: National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh
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National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh
Our idea of Cambodia has been pretty much summed up by Lara Croft. With the right kind of guns and adventure, it’s a place where all stunts and mystery conquests can be pulled off. However, Cambodia proves that there are still other places and experiences that can equal to the adventures that can be done at any Cambodian temple.
Take for example: the National Museum of Cambodia. “Adventure” and “museum” don't exactly fit the category. However, visiting this place gives you a different perspective on this all-time prejudice. There’s something very distinctive and humbling about the National Museum of Cambodia among all other museums you will ever find. Maybe it’s because of the raw and rich history of pain, adventure, and triumphs that make this museum stand out.
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It’s situated at the very nucleus of the city’s capital, Phnom Penh. The entrance and structural design is seemingly diminutive at first, but let’s not fool ourselves - it’s actually the country’s largest and leading historical and archaeological museum. Inside, you will find heaps of Khmer culture. Khmer = Cambodian. Khmer = also translates as the national language of Cambodia.
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Anyway, back to Khmer. Inside the museum, everything is rich in back story. From moving art collection, to thought-provoking sculptures. You don’t need to read the whole stories and small captions found in each artifact; you just stare at it and you’ll more or less feel the exuding life and realization that the works of art are sharing.
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The Cambodian people are not as rich so it’s commendable to see the evident resourcefulness in preserving and making the artifacts as respectable as possible. Kudos for a job well done!
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The central area is where the serenity and reflection happen. It’s made up of a picturesque pond with golden fishes, and a Buddha-like structure meditating inside a small temple. There are four walk ways from the four corners, which actually makes the setting more vivid.
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The things you will see in this museum will really make you understand how the historical adventures, both triumphs and tribulations, helped Cambodia rise and be the committed nation that it is now. The pains and hopes of the Khmer people are really evident in the things you will see and learn inside the museum. This makes you recognize the value of love and respect for ones country, just like how they do it. This makes you realize that now more than ever, love and respect for ones country is not only a noble thing to do, it should be a way of life.
And so it’s not always about the grand temples that elevate Cambodia’s rich culture and adventures. There’s more to adventure than meets the eye; all it takes are a few more artifacts to seal the deal.
Address: St.Joseph Catholic Church, NH 5, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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